headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Houston Head

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Submissions

2
El Paso
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Lyrically precise, energetic playing, and everyone sounds like they're enjoying themselves. What more could you ask for on this one?
3
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 26, 1971
The Palestra, U. of Rochester

The shorter versions need love to, and this one hits all the sweet spots.
2
Drums
Sept. 25, 1991
Boston Garden

Fun and thunderous, this version has some great grooves.
11
Queen Jane Approximately
Sept. 16, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Clean and confident reading with lots of personality from Phil and Vince.

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

Jerry does some very cool chordal jamming in the transition jam that struck me as fairly unique.
Sugaree
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

I really love this brief window when Keith and Pig are both playing actively. It's not the most epic version, but it does have fantastic vocals and a rich group sound on the instrumental portion.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 22, 1978
Winterland Arena

A cool version. As others have observed, it's quite mellow. But in that mellow space is a lot of creativity from Garcia/Lesh/Weir. The transition jam is full of delicate, unique passages — a pleasant energy current that runs through FOTM.
Franklin's Tower
Nov. 9, 1979
Memorial Auditorium

My controversial opinion is that Franklin's Tower can sometimes be a touch monotonous on tape. This version absolutely lays waste to that idea. Smoldering, energetic, varied... everything you ask for in a Dead song.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 3, 1972
Olympia Theater

The pre-transition jam in China Cat feels like a bunch of old friends co-chilling at someone's place. They're all kind of doing their own thing, but everything feels casually harmonious. There's nothing else quite like this.
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